To view programs in a district, please scroll to the district and click.
How to Participate: Contact Us for more information
| Participants | Program | Description of Event |
|---|---|---|
| middle and high school students | Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions | Students visit the courthouse for mock legal proceedings based on scenarios from landmark United States Supreme Court Cases. Members of the local U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal Public Defender's Office, and U.S. Marshals Service also speak with the students about their respective roles. |
| elementary school children | Naturalization Ceremonies | Local elementary school children attend the ceremony and lead the new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| students | Oral Arguments Roadshow | The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and/or the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Supreme Court partner with the Birmingham Bar Foundation to hold oral arguments in Birmingham once per year. |
| all ages | Speaking Engagements | Throughout the year, judges are invited to visit schools for career day events and civics classes. The judges speak about the judiciary and their role as a judge. |
| high school juniors and seniors | Alabama Governor's School Classes | Judges and law clerks have taught the law portion of the Alabama Governor's School 13-day residential program held at Samford University. The program provides academic, creative, and leadership experiences for rising high school juniors and seniors in Alabama. |
How to Participate: Contact Us for more information
| Participants | Program | Description of Event |
|---|---|---|
| high school students | Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions at the Johnson Institute | The Johnson Institute encourages civil dialog and the exchange of knowledge in a respectful, open manner, particularly related to the U.S. Constitution and the Judicial Branch of government. Institute programming include Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions workshops. Judges participate in programs hosted by the institute. |
| all ages | Leadership Conferences and Historical Workshops | The court hosts leadership workshops in conjunction with national, state, county, youth, and other local organizations. Visiting organizations include delegations of other federal, state, and local jurists. Numerous organizations include the Middle District of Alabama in their annual programming. Judges participate in programs hosted by the district. |
| all ages | Naturalization Ceremonies | The court holds nine naturalization ceremonies annually. These sessions include educational and civic engagement components. Student groups are routinely included in the program. The educational program includes citizenship candidates, representatives from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, patriotic organizations, court officials, and judges. The ceremonies are routinely conducted at one of three district courthouses, but occasionally are conducted at high schools and college campuses within the district. |
| high school and college students | Mock Trial Competitions | The court hosts several multi-day mock trial competitions. These include college tournaments and the annual YMCA Youth Judicial Program. Youth Judicial includes over 600 high school students from across the state of Alabama. The weekend competition is typically held in November. Judges are active in the programming and deliver the keynote address. Members of the bar serve in volunteer roles. |
| all ages | Historical and Cultural Programs | The court hosts numerous events throughout the year including programming for members of Congress, in collaboration with The Faith and Politics Institute. Other programs include oral history presentations and programming focused on jurisprudence and various cultural and historical topics, civic art, and the humanities. |
| law school students | Educational Programs | The district hosts legal educational programs each year. The court hosts an annual visit from first year law students from the University of Alabama School of Law, Faulkner Law - Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, and Cumberland School of Law | Samford University. This programming is a component of each institution's orientation for first year students. |
| attorneys | Professional Education | Working with the local Federal Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, CJA panel attorneys, and law firms within the circuit, the court routinely hosts brown bag luncheons, roundtable sessions, and professional development workshops. Continuing legal education sessions where judges and court staff serve as panelists are also held throughout the year. |
How to Participate: Contact Us for more information
| Participants |
| |
|---|---|---|
| students of all ages | Courthouse Field Trips | The students are welcomed by the Court Clerk before observing a court session, touring parts of the courthouse with the U.S. Marshals Service, and meeting courthouse K-9 Nina. There is a discussion about the importance of security in upholding the rule of law. When time permits, there is a question and answers session with judges, court reporters, courtroom deputies, and lawyers. |
| high school juniors and seniors | Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions | Students participate in a relatable court simulation which involves a facilitator, about 24 students, five volunteer attorneys, and a judge. The program has also been taken to the Northern Division of the district in Selma. Students from six area schools learned about legal consequences and the true value of civil discourse. |
| middle school students, adult groups | Courthouse Naturalization Ceremonies | Middle school and JROTC students attend, participate in, and observe these patriotic ceremonies which take place monthly in the courthouse. There are guest speakers and musicians. If time permits, the students will hear from a U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services Officer who tells them about the path to citizenship. |
| all ages | Naturalization Ceremonies Held Away From the Courthouse | Members of the general public observe a naturalization ceremony off-site during a large local sporting event. The ceremonies have taken place at college basketball and football games as well as during the Senior Bowl. |
| all ages | Courthouse Tours | Visitors learn about courthouse building architecture, including the significance of the courthouse art work, and the purpose of having a jury assembly room. A courtroom visit is also included. |
| law school students | Summer Law Clerk Day | Summer law clerks from various local firms attend a courthouse tour, observe court proceedings, and participate in question and answer sessions with judges. |
| children of court staff members | Our Kids in the Courthouse | One day each year, court staff are encouraged to bring their children to work so they can learn about the valuable professional roles their parents hold and how they are essential to the judicial system. |
| attorneys | Coffee with the Court | Lawyers are invited to have coffee with federal judges and listen to a panel of judges in a question and answer session led by a moderator. This program is held in conjunction with the Mobile Bar Association. |
| students and their families | Law Day/Judicial Day Celebration | Students enter art and essay contests based on a theme provided by the court. Awards are given out at a special ceremony. A panel of judges and moderator also hold a question and answer session. This program is held in conjunction with the Mobile Bar Association. |
| attorneys | Professional Development for Local Bar Members | The Court and Mobile Bar Association host and participate in several events throughout the year to provide opportunities for professional development for members of the local bar. Events include Bench & Bar, Lunch & Learn, CLE By the Hour, and the Mobile Bar Association Annual Meeting. |